Patekar helps Traiskirchen beat former team Oberwart

Traiskirchen Lions beat the Oberwart Gunners 81-77 on Saturday, with former Oberwart player Edi Patekar helping the visitors secure their eighth win in eight games, ORF Burgenland reported.

Patekar spent almost nine years playing for Oberwart in the Basketball Superliga. Back at his former home court as a Lions player, he made life difficult for his former teammates with his defence and scored four points.

“It was a very special game for me because I spent almost my entire career in Oberwart,” Patekar told ORF Burgenland. He also called Oberwart the strongest opponent his team had faced so far.

Traiskirchen built its win on a strong second half. Oberwart lost its lead in a difficult third quarter and fell as many as 16 points behind, but fought back to finish just four points short.

“We had a bit of a dip in the third quarter. But the fact that we fought back at the end shows we have a strong will,” Oberwart captain Sebastian Käferle said. The Gunners were also without two players because of injuries.

Oberwart is currently fourth in the standings. Coach Horst Leitner said the results could be better but that the team’s goal of finishing in the top six was not at risk.

The Eisenstadt Dragonz returned to winning ways with a 97-79 victory over promoted side Kufstein. Eisenstadt is fifth, behind Oberwart.